I agree with Tom. A family friend is a classical music buff and has been through both preamps in his system. He ended up with the L1 because it did not traffic jam (at all) on major complex works. I to be perfectly honest was not really able to distinguish the "jam" of the Mod 3a, but was also not familiar with the music that we were listening to or the system. The Mod 3a was warmer, but not at all like a vintage tube amp. It added a little more 3D than the best solid state that I am familiar with and got the instruments right in my book. However the preamp in his system requires that the tubes be changed in less than a years time, which is too often IMO. It is still sonicaly one of my favorite preamps.
Audible Illusions Mod. III
Can anyone tell me if the Audible Illusion Mod. III is upgradeable to a mod. 3A? If so, about how much does it cost? If one had about $800.00 to spend on a good quality tube preamp, what would other suggestions be? I guess the real question I have is if anyone knows how a Mod. III would compare to a Audible Illusions L-1, as used they are about the same price second hand? Thanks